Canada should consider a national firefighting force that could deploy quickly anywhere provinces or territories request help, according to two scientists in B.C.
The idea was floated this week by a wildfire expert at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, B.C., in the Interior — about 171 kilometres northwest of Kelowna — who argued it currently takes too long to get help from out-of-province or other countries.
"There's no specific discussion about a dedicated national force," said Michael Norton, director with Natural Resources Canada's Canadian Forest Centre, at a technical briefing to reporters Friday in North Vancouver. "I don't want to convey that anything is off the table … Any idea might might surface as being viable and desirable by the various jurisdictions."
Wildland fire ecologist and consultant Robert Gray told CBC News he would rather see that approach, and praised Ottawa's emphasis on Indigenous and community-level fire prevention efforts. He said unlike the U.S., which has tens of thousands of personnel already scattered across the country, having Ottawa take on such a role "would be a little bit tougher."
The Member of Parliament for South Okanagan—West Kootenay told CBC News he wants Ottawa to closely consider Flannigan's proposal.It would bring Canada in line with similar fire-impacted countries, such as Australia. Cannings said such an initiative could reduce financial and staffing stress on regional wildfire services, and increase the efficiency by which provinces can respond quickly to new fires.
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